But by noon of that day Stanislaus became unconscious. Father Fazio
was with him at once and administered restoratives. Very soon
Stanislaus was himself again, bright and smiling as ever. Father
Fazio began to joke with him.

"O man of little heart!" he said. "To give up courage in so slight
a sickness!"

Stanislaus answered, "A man of little heart I admit I am. But the
sickness, Father, is not so very slight, since I'm going to die of it."

And, indeed, he began to fail rapidly. By evening the death-sweat
stood out upon him, the vital warmth little by little withdrew from
hands and feet to the citadel of his heart. When the last light of
day was gone from the sky, he made his confession and received the
Holy Viaticum. A great many of his fellow-novices were present, and
some wept. He was a good comrade, they did not want to see him
depart from them.

Then he received Extreme Unction. He made the answers to the
prayers himself. Afterward he confessed again, in order to receive
the plenary indulgence granted for the hour of death. And after that
he talked for a little time, kindly and cheerfully, to those about
him, and bidding them good-by, turned his mind and his heart to heaven.

Three Fathers stayed with him through the silence of the night, when
the rest had gone to bed. Most of the time he prayed, either aloud
with his watchers, or silently by himself. He left messages to his
more intimate friends, and asked the Fathers to beg pardon for any